Convertible charcoal and wood burning grill



5-, 1969 c. E. swANsory 3,459,171.

CONVERTIBLE CHARCOAL AND WOOD BURNING GRILL Filed Dec. 27. 1967 INYENTOR. 64m 5 Swan/so United States Patent 3,459,171 CONVERTIBLE CHARCOAL AND WOOD BURNING GRILL Carl Elof Swanson, Hermansville, Mich. 49847 Filed Dec. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 693,948 Int. Cl. F24b 3/00 U.S. Cl. 126-25 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE convertibility of a heavy duty type outdoor grill from charcoal to wood burning and vice versa is made possible by the provision of a sliding lower grate which, when in position in the firebox, serves as a support means for the charcoal and which, when moved to an outer cantilevered position, allows the use of a bulkier fuel in the firebox while simultaneously providing an adjacent work area. An upper pivotal grate may be swung through an arc of approximately 270 to allow easy access to the firebox and grates. Handle means for the grates and vent means for the firebox are, of course, provided. In a preferred embodiment support for the grill is provided by angle irons attached at the corners of the firebox.

Background of the invention It has been found important in the design of grills which will be used by many different people at different times to provide a very high degree of durability, adaptability, and simplicity of construction and use. Thus, as regards durability, not only must strong materials be used, but also the design, to assure many repair-free years, should have a minimum of moving and removable parts. These and other durability features which I have discovered have been incorporated into the present invention.

Regarding adaptability I have found that while some people prefer to use charcoal in grilling, others desire to use only wood. Thus, in addition to the above noted features, it is important that a heavy duty grill allow the use of either of these two types of material under conditions where maximum utilization is made of both.

It is therefore an object of this invention to incorporate the above noted design criteria, which I have found to be important, into a grill which is also simple, efficient and inexpensive.

Summary of the invention Briefly summarized, the outdoor grill which is adapted to be converted from charcoal burning to wood burning comprises a firebox, an upper grate, a lower grate, and support means therefor. The firebox of the preferred embodiment has first and second opposite parallel ends joined to first and second opposite parallel sides and a semicylindrical bottom integral with said sides. To provide a convenient and inexpensive hinge area for the top grate, each of said ends has a grate hinging portion in the plane of said ends extending from an upper corner so that it projects beyond the first of said sides. A framed rectangular upper grate having intersecting crossbars is pivotally attached to said ends on said hinging portions whereby said upper grate may be swung through approximately 270 from a substantially horizontal position atop said firebox where it is supported by the upper edge of said second side, to a substantially vertical position depending 3,459,171 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 from the hinging portion. Handle means on said upper grate may be of any conventional design. When in a closed position, the upper surface of the grate is substantially flush with the top edges of said ends, which fact is made possible by the sides being shorter than the ends by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said upper grate. Slidably mounted in said firebox between the bottom of the firebox and the top of the firebox, the lower grate is movable through a slot in said first end from an inner charcoal supporting position below said upper grate to an outer wood burning position where a substantial portion of said lower grate is cantilevered outwardly from said first end to afford space in the firebox for burning wood or other bulky material and to provide a nongrilling work area adjacent to the upper grate. A pair of grate runners in said firebox, one extending a substantial distance along each of said side walls, slidably support said lower grate. Functioning in conjunction with the grate runners to allow the movement and cantilevering of the lower grate a pair of grade guides are positioned in said firebox so that one is spaced above each of said runners a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said lower grate and extends a short distance from said first end. In construction these guides may be of an angle iron construction. Handle means for said lower grate extend the width of said grate and project outwardly through the end wall when the lower grate is in operative position below the upper grate. Conventional vent means are provided on said firebox in accordance with design requirements. Likewise, the support means for anchoring said firebox against movement may be of conventional design although the four-legged angle iron construction of the illustrated embodiment is preferred.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the upper grate swung back through an arc of about and the inner grate partially withdrawn from the firebox.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the grill.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the grill as is shown in FIGURE 3.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawing, there is shown one preferred embodiment of the invention having a generally indicated firebox 10, support 20, top grate 30, inner grate 40, and draft or vent means 60. As is shown in plan view, the firebox 10 is of generally rectangular construction having ends 11, 13, sides 12, 14 and a rounded bottom 15 which, when the lower grate is removed, gives adequate room for logs and/or other bulky burnable materials. When more concentrated forms of fuel are used, the lower grate slides into supporting position at a level above the bottom of the firebox so that maximum efiiciency of the fuel is attained. This flexibility adds greatly to the convenience of the grill. Simplicity of construction is evident by the fact that the box is usually made of only three pieces of material, the sides 12, 14 and the bottom 15 being unitary.

Extending from the top edge of the ends 11 and 13 are extensions 16 and 17 which support the pivot means 18, 19 for the top grate 30. The feature of the pivot point being outside the rectangular periphery of the box allows the top grate to be swung easily out of the way without actual removal, whereby it rests in a position hanging from the pivot means. Further, it should be noted that the end walls 11, 13 extend above the sides 12, 14 a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the grate thereby providing lateral support against movement of the top grate while maintaining a neat and flush working surface on the upper grate. When in a closed position, as is shown in FIGURE 3, ,the top grate extends slightly beyond the upper edge of side 12 and is supported thereon. Handle means 35 for the top grate may be of any conventional design suitable for the purpose. Further, the top grate itself may be of any suitable conventional grill construction.

Slidably positioned in the firebox at a level below the top grate 30 is the inner grate 40 which serves several functions. When in the position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 with just the handle 45 extending outwardly through the slot 48 in firebox side 11, the grate serves as a support for the small highly concentrated type of grill fuels, such as charcoal for example. When a bulkier fuel is used in the grill, such as wood logs, etc., the inner grate 40 may be slid along grate runners 41, 42 as is shown in FIGURE 1 to a position where the grate retainer 46 abuts the grate guides 43, 44. At this point the sliding grate will be substantially removed from the inside of the firebox thereby allowing the accommodation of the bulkier material, while at the same time the grate, cantilevered outwardly of the firebox, serves its dual function as a working area for the preparation and storage of items used in grilling.,In this connection, it should be noted that as the sliding grate is extended outwardly from the firebox, the upper edge of the slot 48 serves to clear olf any ashes or debris from the sliding grate 40. Moreover, the handle 45 serves as a means for hanging cooking utensils, etc. It can be seen that this arrangement of grates possesses simplicity of design that results in durability, adaptability, and great convenience not only to the user but also to the maintainer of this apparatus. Thus, with the top grate 30 easily swung out of the way approximately 270 and with the inner grate 40 in its outward position, the rounded bottom 15 readily lends itself to the shoveling out of ashes and any other cleaning operations. Located near the lowermost portion of the bottom 15, the controllable draft or vent means 60* comprising, as shown in FIGURE 4, a hole 60a and a flap 60b pivoted at 60c assures that water may readily drain off, thereby increasing durability by removing corrosion-causing substances. Easy access to both sides of the top grate 30, made possible by the swingability of the upper grate, makes cleaning quick and convenient. Further, the fact that none of the parts of the grill may be removed prevents their loss and the accompanying inconvenience.

Having the lower grate slidable through the end 11 of the firebox and the upper grate pivoted to swing away from side 12, or what would normally be the front of the grill, allows easy access to the firebax during use and maintenance.

Support for the preferred embodiment of the grill is provided by the four legs 22, 24, 26 and 28 shown on FIGS. 3 and 4, which as shown are angle irons attached at each corner. End plates 23, 25, 27 and 29 on the ends of said legs have an anchoring hole 23a, 25a, 27a and 29a respectively, therein for secure mounting of the grill. It is, of course, contemplated that other mounting means such as a single centrally positioned post are optional support means to which the apparatus lends itself if conditions require.

Durability of construction is assured by the use of heavy gauge sheet steel, for example for the firebox, although other similarly strong, durable and workable materials may be used.

I have thus set out in this specification and the accompanying drawings a prefered construction of my heavy duty charcoal grill and wood burner which combines simplicity of construction in a highly durable and yet in- 4 expensive apparatus which is adaptable to use various fuels and is convenient to maintain.

I claim:

1. A grill adapted to burn both charcoal and wood comprising:

(a) a firebox having adjacent angularly related sides,

(b) an upper grate pivotally attached to an upper portion of one of said sides, and

(c) a lower grate horizontally slidable through an other of said sides, whereby said lower grate when in a position below the top grate serves as a support for a charcoal fire and when in a position outside of said firebox serves as a shelf and allows a wood fire to be made in the firebox.

2. A grill adapted to be converted from charcoal burning to wood burning comprising:

(a) a firebox having (1) first and second opposite ends joined to (2) first and second opposite sides and (3) a bottom,

(4) a grate hinging portion on said ends,

(b) an upper grate pivotally attached to said hinging portion so as to allow swinging through approximately 270", handle means on said upper grate,

(c) a lower grate slidably mounted in said firebox and movable through a slot in one of said ends from an inner fuel supporting position to an outer cantilevered position whereby it functions as a non-grilling working surface, handle means on said lower grate, and

((1) support means for anchoring said firebox against movement.

3. The grill according to claim 2 wherein said firebox bottom is integral with said sides and of an approximately semi-cylindrical configuration.

4. The grill according to claim 2 wherein said ends are flush with the top of the upper grill and the sides provide a support to bear against the bottom of the upper grill.

5. The grill according to claim 2 wherein said lower grate is supported on both sides by runners below and guides above said lower grate.

6. The grill according to claim 2 wherein said support means comprises angle irons attached to said firebox and depending therefrom.

7. The grill according to claim 2 wherein controllable vent means are provided adjacent the lowermost portion of said firebox to allow the inlet of air and the outlet of moisture collected in said firebox.

8. The grill according to claim 2 wherein the pivot point of the upper grate is on the hinge portion outside the upper periphery of said firebox.

9. An outdoor grill adapted to be converted from charcoal burning to Wood burning comprising:

(a) a firebox having first and second opposite parallel ends joined to first and second opposite parallel sides, and a semi-cylindrical bottom integral with said sides, a grate hinging portion in the plane of said ends extending from an upper corner of said ends beyond the first of said sides,

(b) a framed rectangular upper grate pivotally attached to said hinging portions whereby said upper grate may be swung through 270 from a horizontal position atop said firebox where it is supported by the upper edge of said second side to a substantially vertical position depending from the hinging portion,

handle means on said upper grate,

said ends extending above the upper edge of said sides a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said upper grate,

(c) a lower grate slidably mounted in said firebox and movable through a slot in said first end from an inner charcoal supporting position below said upper grate to an outer wood burning position where a substantial portion of said lower grate is cantilevered outwardly from said first end to afford space in the 5 firebox for burning wood and to provide a non-grilling Work area adjacent to the upper grill,

a pair of grate runners in said firebox, one extending a substantial distance along each of said side walls slidably supporting said working grate,

a pair of grate guides in said firebox, one said guide spaced above each of said runners a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said lower grate and extending a short distance from said first end,

lower grate handle means projecting beyond said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,223 6/1950 Contiguglia 99-339 2,659,360 11/1953 Bitney. 3,060,918 10/1962 Meyer 126-9 FREDERICK KETTERER, Primary Examiner 

